The Centre for Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation and Conservation (MARBEC) affiliated to the CNRS, University of Montpellier, IRD and Ifremer is an academic research centre focussing on the impact of global environmental change and anthropogenic drivers on the biodiversity and functioning of coastal ecosystems. Expertise concerns biogeography, niche modelling and the role of micro- and macro-organisms (ranging from viruses to fishes) on the functioning of the coastal marine ecosystems in Europe and in tropical countries (Vietnam, Senegal, Mexico, Pacific and Indian Oceans). Specific activities encompass the networking of researchers and managers working on coastal lagoon and the development of a science-management interface in the Mediterranean region (EU-DITTY project) and at the regional scale (Gulf of Lions).

Principal Investigator:

Rutger de Wit trained as a microbial ecologist and biogeochemist, has 20 years of experience in multidisciplinary studies on coastal lagoon ecosystems and is active at the science-management interface for these ecosystems.
In Ecopotential he is the leader for Task 9.2 in WP9.